Hadid and Malik in shock split

THE couple - who were rumoured to be engaged - had been one of the showbiz world's most glamorous pairs for 28 months.

But Malik, 25, and Hadid, 22, gradually drifted apart, due in part to work pressures, causing them to officially break up earlier this month.

According to The Sun, last night a source close to couple revealed: "Sadly Zayn and Gigi have separated.

Zayn Malik and girlfriend Gigi Hadid have reportedly separated after two years together. Picture: Supplied

"They are no longer a couple but they do remain close and are supportive of each other.

"The reality is that they've grown apart, having been together for a long time.

"They have crazy work schedules that would put pressure on any relationship."

Malik hinted at the split in an Instagram post.

He said: "When Life throws you lemons, catch em so they don't hit you in the f*****g face."

While the couple have previously had an up and down relationship, my sources confirm this is now a formal split.

The source added: "This is definitely the end for now, but this isn't a bitter split and they both have respect for each other.

"It's a mutual decision so no one has completely ruled out a reunion in the future, but for now that's not where their heads are at."

The couple, who posed together for a Vogue photoshoot last July, had increasingly spent time apart.

Malik, who now lives in Los Angeles, flew out to Florida at the end of February for a holiday while Hadid was working at Paris Fashion Week.

They started dating in November 2015, three months after Malik ended his engagement to Little Mix star Perrie Edwards, 24.

Hadid had also split up with US pop heart-throb Joe Jonas, 28, just weeks before they got together.

The former 1D singer introduced himself to Hadid at a Victoria's Secret party and asked her on a date during their first meeting.

The model then appeared in the video for his first single after quitting Simon Cowell's boyband, the raunchy Pillowtalk, in January 2016.

They made their first red carpet appearance together at the Met Gala in May that year.

She was also his rock during his struggle with anxiety and was with him in London in 2016 when he pulled out of Capital's Summertime Ball, minutes before he was due to headline.

Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik attend the Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2016 in New York City. Picture: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Last year they appeared in a Versace campaign together.

Speaking in September about how they dealt with dating in the spotlight, he said: "I just concentrate on my relationship and try to do right by my girlfriend and she does by me, and we hope for the best, as we all do."

In January last year the pair sparked rumours they were engaged after being pictured with a diamond band on her ring finger.

It was later revealed they were not, but when Hadid's mum Yolanda was asked in January this year whether he would propose, she sounded hopeful.

She said: "We'll see, I truly believe they're all on their own journey. It's not in my hands anymore so I'm just sitting back and letting it all unfold."

Gigi Hadid she steps out alone in New York on 12 Mar 2018. Picture: MEGA

Speaking about their love in 2016, Hadid said: "For the first time, we are both in a relationship where we have very similar interests outside of work and that is really important.

"We cook a lot together and do art together and we're each other's best friends. We both feel we can talk about anything and learn a lot from one another."

This article first appeared in The Sun and is republished with permission.

Zayn Malik at the Grammy Awards on January 28, 2018 in New York. Picture: Getty Images